The Cowherd Prince

It's probably more of a 4.5.

This is a very common term that I use in my reviews - “as a self proclaimed Mahabharata fan” - but it is true because I love reading any versions of the epic I can get my hands on. One such reimagination that really captivated me was the Aryavarta Chronicles, so when I saw that the author was releasing a prequel featuring my favorite character from the trilogy, I knew I had to read it. It was disappointing to see that the book didn't have a US release but the author was very sweet and sent me an eARC, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity.

Govinda Shauri was an absolute enigma in the original trilogy and I was completely in love with his character, and this book only cemented my love for him even more. The author doesn't start off the story from his birth or from his parent's imprisonment like most Krishna's stories go - this describes only a few important incidents that lead to Govinda's first trip to Mathura, and I thought it was a great choice by the author. This makes for a very fast paced plot, with life changing events happening at breakneck speed, keeping me totally hooked and unable to put the book down. And just like the trilogy, there are also a lot of political and philosophical arguments which I thoroughly enjoyed, and some of the themes related to oppression, the greed for power, the importance of building movements for and by the common people - these all touched a nerve, especially in the aftermath of the American election and all the shenanigans happening around.

Govinda as a character is hard not to love - he is charming, intelligent, has a way with words that can convince anyone, a strong conviction to defy the laws of the land put forth by the powerful and do something bigger for the welfare of the many - this sense of justice in his heart is so well articulated by the author in the dialogue that I felt mesmerized and kept wishing him to succeed in all his schemes. Balabhadra on the other hand may seem like he doesn't like the person his brother is becoming, but their bond is unbreakable and I enjoyed watching them anticipate each other's thoughts and act accordingly. There were quite a few other impactful side characters, but I particularly enjoyed the banter between Govinda and Yuyudhana, and how their relationship changed from being adversaries to one full of trust.

In conclusion, this is very engaging tale of how a common man came to be a master strategist and kingmaker within this world of Aryavarta, and it is full of memorable characters and intense situations, and even more unforgettable thought provoking discussions that feel very relevant to our real world. I really hope that the author has plans to continue this prequel into a series because I'm not ready to let it go yet.